Macroinvertebrate

 

NOTE: For the results of a 2006 Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Study conducted by PCRS, click here.

 

Each year between August 15th and October 15th, PCRS conducts macroinvertebrate (aquatic insect) sampling in Puget and Mason Creeks, using the Benthic Index of Biological Integrity (BIBI) developed by Dr. James Karr, a professor at the University of Washington. Aquatic insects are the definitive indicator of the stream system because some of them remain in the stream for up to two years.

 

Since some insects are more tolerant of pollutants than others, we are able to determine whether pollutants are present in these streams for long periods by the types and numbers of insects that survive there. Conversely, the presence of high numbers of pollution-intolerant insects such as May fly, caddis fly, or stone fly larvae, would indicate fairly good stream quality, for the most part. We send our samples to entemologists for analysis and are compiling reports of our findings.

 

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